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Towson grad transfer RB Shane Simpson commits to Virginia

The Longhorns were the other finalist for the FCS All-American.

NCAA FOOTBALL: SEP 03 Towson at USF Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Shane Simpson is headed to Charlottesville.

The former Towson Tigers running back, who entered the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday, committed to the Virginia Cavaliers over the Texas Longhorns on Sunday.

The decision will cap a whirlwind stretch for the 5’11, 205-pounder — he entered the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday after the Colonial Athletic Association announced that it will not play football this fall. Simpson quickly narrowed his list to two after receiving interest from programs like Duke, Florida State, Northwestern, Penn State, Texas, and Wake Forest.

A sixth-year senior who only played three games in 2019, Simpson’s appeal is not just his experience, its his versatility. During a consensus All-American season in 2018, Simpson went over 2,000 all-purpose yards, scoring 12 total touchdowns while racking up 711 rushing yards, 356 receiving yards, 887 kick return yards. and 104 punt return yards.

So the opportunity for more significant playing time at Virginia than Texas likely factored into Simpson’s decision to pick the Cavaliers.

Head coach Tom Herman has two available scholarships and also remains in pursuit of Arizona graduate transfer linebacker Tony Fields II.